There’s not much coming to theaters to mark the beginning of the new year, but there’s plenty to catch up on. Avatar led last weekend’s box office results and there’s no indication that it’s stopping anytime soon. Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air was well loved by audiences and critics alike. Guy Ritchie’s take on Sherlock Holmes is still in theaters, as are less advertised films like Invictus and, if you’re lucky, A Serious Man. As far as new films go, there’s a pair of limited releases:

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (limited)

Many excellent films have been made from the screenplays of Tennessee Williams. Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor lit up the screen in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and there’s little to compare to Marlon Brando’s performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. Unfortunately, The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond doesn’t seem to match the appeal of those legendary films. It stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Evans, both more commonly found in the superhero genre.

The White Ribbon (limited)

On the other side of the coin, The White Ribbon has been receiving glowing reviews. The controversial Austrian director Michael Haneke tends to take an approach to film that highlights the more disturbing and depressing aspects of society. The movie’s beautiful black and white aesthetic serves to contrast the dark mood.